Drama as students torch down Chang'aa den

One of the houses touched by irate students after one of them was attacked after allegedly stealing alcohol at a drinking den in Rongo. [Source/Ian Omondi]

A local liquor brewer is counting losses after rowdy students set her home ablaze following an altercation with the brewer.

Caroline Atieno who sells traditional brew popular as "Chang'aa" at Nyarach village in Rongo is said to have hired goons to beat up the students from Siala Institute of Technology who had stolen a ten-litre jerrican of alcohol.

According to Atieno, she left the liquor in the living room to ‘sort out’ police officers on regular patrol when the two students carted away her consignment.

“I was attending to officers on patrol but was shocked to return only to find my liquor missing. My daughter informed me that some students from Siala Institute sneaked into the house and took the drinks,” said Atieno.

She is then reported to have mobilized other clients and traced the youth to their hostel where they were found sipping the alcohol behind locked doors.

A witness privy to the occurrence said villagers stormed the hostel and beat up one of the students leaving him with severe injuries before his colleagues ganged up.

On Sunday morning, the angry students stormed the woman’s homestead, chased away residents and torched one of the houses in protest.

Rongo OCPD Peter Kirui confirmed the incident but said investigations are ongoing adding officers colluding with peddlers will be firmly dealt with.